Page:An introduction to Indonesian linguistics, being four essays.djvu/260

SECTION II : ENUMERATION AND DESCRIPTION

OF THE INDONESIAN SOUNDS.

The Original Indonesian Phonetic System.

39. Original Indonesian must be credited with the following phonetic system :

Vowels a i u e o ĕ

Semi-vowels y w

Liquids r₁ r₂ l

Laryngal q^[1]

Velars k g ṅ^[1]

Palatals c^[1] j ñ^[1]

Dentals t d n

Labials p b m

Sibilant s

Aspirate h

40. Observations on this table of sounds :

I. The two vowels e and o in the hving IN languages are mostly of secondary origin. In a former monograph^[2] I was able to prove their existence as Original IN sounds only in two words, viz., bela," companion, avenger, to share the same fate", and sor, "below".

II. The liquid r₁ is a lingual r, while r₂ is a uvular r.

III. The laryngal q, also called hamzah, is almost always secondary in the living IN languages. Only in a single case (see § 181) can it with some probability be ascribed to Original IN.

IV. The palatals are regarded by some scholars as not being original; in their opinion they have been evolved from

1. [See also Essay I, § 11, I, footnotes.]
2. [See Essay II, § 26.]